A Kenyan woman is helped to safety after masked gunmen stormed an upmarket mall in Nairobi, killing at least 22 people. Source: AFP
GUNMEN have thrown grenades and opened fire killing at least 22 people in an attack targeting non-Muslims at an upscale mall in Kenya's capital that was hosting a children's day event, witnesses say.
A local hospital was overwhelmed with the number of wounded being brought in hours after the attack, so they had to divert them to a second facility.
Elijah Kamau, who was at the mall at the time of the midday attack, said that the gunmen made a declaration that non-Muslims would be targeted.
"The gunmen told Muslims to stand up and leave. They were safe, and non-Muslims would be targeted," he said.
Manish Turohit, 18, said he saw gunmen with AK-47s and vests with hand grenades on them inside the mall before he escaped to hide in a parking garage for two hours.
"They just came in and threw a grenade. We were running and they opened fire. They were shouting and firing," he said after being marched out of the mall in line with about 15 people who held their hands in the air.
A Kenyan Red Cross official said at least 22 people had been killed in the attack at the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi.
Shoppers flee the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, after gunmen told Muslims to leave and that non-Muslims would be targeted. Picture: AP
Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue said it was a terrorist attack and that there were likely no more than 10 terrorists involved, as gunfire continued to be exchanged.
Somali's rebel group al-Shabab vowed in late 2011 to carry out a large-scale attack in Nairobi in retaliation for Kenya's sending of troops into Somalia to fight the Islamic insurgents.
A group of people remain in hiding inside the mall.
At least a half dozen people were bloodied and were grabbed by first responders. Many clutched small children. Others were crying.
Mall guards used shopping carts to wheel out several wounded children and at least one man.
The volleys of gunfire moved outside the mall after police arrived nearly half an hour after the attacks began and engaged the gunmen.
People run to safety during the midday attack. Picture: AFP
Rob Vandijk, who works at the Dutch embassy, said he was eating at a restaurant inside the mall when attackers lobbed hand grenades inside the building.
He said gunfire then burst out and people screamed as they dropped to the ground.
It appears the attack began at the outdoor seating area of Artcaffe at the front of the mall, witnesses said.
Patrick Kuria, an employee at Artcaffe, said: "We started by hearing gunshots downstairs and outside. Later we heard them come inside. We took cover. Then we saw two gunmen wearing black turbans. I saw them shoot."
Cars were left abandoned outside the mall after the attack started around midday.
The Westgate Mall is situated in Nairobi's affluent Westlands area and is frequented by expatriates and rich Kenyans.
A wounded woman is helped to safety after masked gunmen stormed an upmarket mall, throwing grenades and opening fire. Picture: AFP
A wounded man is escorted outside the Westgate Mall. Witnesses said the attackers stormed the shopping centre with AK-47s and hand grenades, "shouting and firing". Picture: AP
